The middle school theatre classes plan to bring back a one-act play this year. Due to COVID-19, the middle school one-act play got canceled for the 2020-2021 school year. Considering COVID cases are at a downfall, UIL has allowed theatre teachers to continue middle school activities. With that, the 2021-2021 Middle School One Act Play is entitled, The Curious Savage by John Patrick.

According to the theatre director, Carl Woodworth, the play is about a woman by the name of “Mrs. Savage that has been left ten million dollars by her husband and wants to make the best use of it, despite her grown-up stepchildren’s efforts to get their hands on it. Knowing that the widow’s wealth is now in negotiable securities, and seeing they cannot get hold of the fortune, the stepchildren commit her to a sanatorium hoping to “bring her to her senses.” In the sanatorium, Mrs. Savage meets various social misfits, me,n and women who just cannot adjust themselves to life, people who need the help Mrs. Savage can provide. In getting to know them, she realizes that she will find happiness with them and plans to spend the rest of her life as one of them. But when the doctor tells her there is no reason why she should remain, she hesitates to go out into a hard world where people seem ready to do anything for money. The self-seeking stepchildren are driven to distraction by their vain efforts to browbeat Mrs. Savage, but she preserves her equanimity and leads them on a merry chase. At last her friends conspire to get rid of her stepchildren, and through their simple belief in the justice of her cause, they enable Mrs. Savage to carry out her plans to establish a fund to help others realize their hopes and dreams. The dominant mood is high comedy, and the audience is left with a feeling that the neglected virtues of kindness and affection have not been entirely lost in a world that seems at times motivated only by greed and dishonesty.”

“They are constantly learning and they frow as actors and technicians every day”, Carl Woodworth stated in an interview, “I couldn’t be more proud of the work they are putting in.”

There are a total of 15 members participating in this year’s one-act play. The cast includes Cheyenne Cannon as Florence, Jackson Ogas as Hannibal, Lily Stroud as Fairy Mae, Perry Lorenz as Jeff, Carmen Jenkins as Mrs. Paddy, Lakota Chamberlain as Miss Willie, Jayden Martin as Titus, Salem Coker as Lily Belle, Lane Endsley as Samuel, Sara Johns as Dr. Emmett, and Brooklyn Ballard as Ethel P. Savage. In addition, the crew consists of Katrina Powell, which is the stage manager, Zeke Burns as the sound coordinator, Alyssa Blackman as the light coordinator, and Briana Lorea as the running crew.